How Crowded Is Washington Monument in May?
May runs about 1.1× Washington Monument's average month, which makes it an average month here — roughly 9% of the park's yearly visitors come in May.
In a typical May the park sees about 45,000 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes May the 4th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the August peak (1.3×) and the February low (0.7×).
On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 48/100 ("Fair"), versus the top-rated February at 81/100 — the best overall balance of crowds and daylight.
Because June, July and August together draw about 31% of annual visitors, choosing May instead steps outside that summer crush — the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels.
You'll have about 14.1 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 9.3-hour midwinter low and the 14.7-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2024 drew 247,208 recreation visits, down 0.6% from 248,750 in 2023.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 38.5%, so May may feel a touch quieter than it once did.
Frequently Asked Questions
May is average at Washington Monument (about 1.1× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair". The single best month overall is February.
The busiest month is August and the quietest is February. May sits at about 1.1× the park's average, or 9% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 45,000 recreation visits at Washington Monument, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Washington Monument in May
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Top-rated places to stay near Washington Monument
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See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in May.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025). Updated 2026-07-14.